Signaling device



Feb. 28, 1933. T. J.A scoFlELD ET Ax.

SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Sept. 19, .1927

f a m W www 5 A) M Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES; PATENT OrmeaTHEODORE J. SCOIELD, LLOYD n. JOHNSON, AND FRED WILLIAM BILLIG, orJAcsON, MICHIGAN, AssIGNoRs ro.` THE ,SPARKS-WITHINGTON COMPANY, OFJACKSON,

IIICEUGAN, CORPORATION OF OHIO -SIGNALING DEVICE Application filedseptember `19, 1`927. serial No. a20`,1;50;Y i

This invention relates to `certain newiand useful improvements insignaling devices and more especialll to a magnetically actuated valvedesigne particularly for controlling the operation of' an air resonantsignaling structure. d

In many places and especially (incertain vehicles where signalingdevicesV Vare desir# able', vasource of air under pressure is alreadyavailable and the main object of this inven-V tion is to produce asignaling device of thel air resonant type which may be connected as bya conduit to the source'of air under pressure, the communication.,through lsuch conduit being normally cut ofi as by a valve,

in combination with magnetically-operated means for opening said valvel'iponthe closing of an associated electric circuit, such circuit closerbeing operable from various remote p'ointsas, for instance, the' driversseat of a vehicle.

Other objects and advantagesy relate to the details lofthe structure andthe form" and, relation of the parts thereof, all as `will more fullyappear from thefollowing description taken in connection `with theaccompanying drawing inv which j e I Figure l is an elevation`,partiallyin lsec'- tion, ofan apparatus ofv this inve I'tion.v

Figure 2 is a section on line 21-2',iF-igure 1. rThe apparatus is hereillustrated Vas associated with and connected tothe wall which may bethe wall of a vehicle' body.'

I Thisconnection may beY made asshown by projecting one of the threadedends of a fitting 2- through an Opening in the wall --1- -V andthreading it into the base of the hollow horn body *3l-, a lock beingprovided for `clamping the partsk rigidfv ly and' tightlytogether; V v iThe fitting -2` is of tl'llnllarfformV and of' two different interioridiameters, the flipper portion' 'illustrated in the drawing' y beingV ofthe larger diameter and apipe vor conduit Q5; penetrates the 4wall of'the fittingsojas to communicate with the portion ofv larger diameter andthis; conduit may`Tv lead to any source for supplyingfair underpressuretothe eonduitandto the interior of the-fitting through theconduit. As here shown it is Vconnected .to lal tankl rsu'c'hpasomay beprovided upon vehicles utilizing air for braking or other purposes. J vj tively `small opening which penetratesV the base of the valve seat andis adaptedtol rel"` ,ceive' the reduced end portion f8- cfa taperedvalve -9- adapted to contact withthe seat .-7- so as yto close theOpening therethrough and shutoff' communication between conduit andtheinterior of the hollow horn body '-8-'. A v

I The valve e9-"f is carried by an elongated stem' -10- which extendsoutwar'dly'and in the illustration, downwardly through the fit` 'tnggand iS'Of an exterior diameter Substantiallyequal to the interiordiameter of that portionv of the interior diameter.

`lhere the stem +10- passes out `from the fitting -2-1 an air-tightconnection is made as by a stuffing box 114-`wliich still per# mitsreciprocation VVof the stern T10- in the fitting '2- to carry valve #9%of engagement with its seat-[74.

The `lower Or outer Vend of thejstem is connected in anysuitableniannerfas` byr4 nuts 12+ to an armaturefl-Q associated with anelectromagnet which may, as lillus trated, consist of a metallic fieldand a and @Oil --1 5', determinan +16;k andL '17- of which are connectedin circuit with;v asuitable source ofpotential as, for instance, battery-'18 ,-f`and1a` circuitfbreaker j- 19 which may be in theforlnof anordinary push button adapted for mounting upon the steering column of avehicle.

The armature -'l3-` is`nor1n'ally main`" tained spaced from the fieldandthe `valve -9- is normally maintained closed as by spring 20-,-disposed between tlienut -12` and the inner end of a threaded into a'central opening7 in the field magnet -14.

: when uit what; is energized e0 energize the' field magnet by closingofthe circuit described, the'arniaftrfe'f13%?l fitting which is oflesser` i into' and' ma;

ist

is'dfrawn` downwardly toward the'fieldmagnet to move valve frr'ncon'tac't with its seat. Immediately the circuit is broken spring -20-closes the valve by moving it into contact with its seat. n

The field magnet -14- may be carried in any suitable manner as, forinstance, by a U-shaped ,sheet `metal case -'-60- secured in anysuitable manner to the fitting as by nut -22- and having its legsextending downwardlyupon opposite sides vof the magnet elli-fandinsulated from the magnet as illustrated, but supporting and carryingthe magnet 14- through any suitable connection as screws -24-. Y

This portion of the-structure may behinclosed in any suitable manner asby antwopartrsheet metal casing Q5- Y n Y Ity will be apparent that withthis structure communicationbetween the source of supply of air underpressure and the horn lbody -,3-'may bemade or may' becuteoif by themere Loperation ofthe switch or circuit closer -'191. Y r

VAny Vsuitable air resonant structure may be associated with the hornbody -3- for pro-Y I ducing a signal of desired character or a num-j berof air resonant devices may be associate-d with thevhornbody andalladaptedto re ceive fluid under pressuretherefrom for the production, ifdesired,y of notes of varying pitch and adapted to produce musical tonesof harmonic character. y Y

-As here illustrated,V two such air resonant devices are contemplatedand as their con-v struction is identical except as to size, adescription of one will constitute a descriptionl of both. n

l The Vprojector 30- has its rear end threaded into or otherwise securedin the front side lof the boss -31- formed at the upper end of the hornbody and a tube 324- i is threadedinto the boss -31- so as tosubstantially Contact with the rear end Vofthe projector SO/- andV thistube projects rearwardly from the boss The boss has a circumferentiallyenlarged intermediate portion forming an yannular chamber 3B-.-surrounding the tube +32- an'd'in communication with the .interiorofthehollow horn body fsf I Y c l l The rear endof the Vboss --3l--y isinternally enlarged with respect to the front end vand is threaded forthe reception of an externally threaded tubular boss -34- formedconcentrically at the base of a cup-shaped member -35- constituting thefront wall of a dia phragm chamber. v, v Y

Theboss 34- may be locked in any desired positionwith respect to theboss -3l by means of a'lock nut 3e-.fl c v The internal diameter ofthe'boss f-Sllis somewhat greater thanth-e yexternal diameter of thetube so as to form *anv annular Ypassage-way around the tube .32-`leading from chamberfeB-Atofthe interior of the cup-shapedmember@-35-'f-W., .The external is such that :when the diaphragm-is posi,

tioned as described it extends across' and normally closes the rearopenend ofthe Vtube -32- and preferably the rear open end of tube-32- isflared as indicated at -39.

It is foundU that the air in the chamber between the diaphragm #-38-dand cap S7- varies in pressure somewhatinaccordance with the temperatureto rwhich the 'device is subject thereby varying the pressure upon the ldiaphragm -38-- which in turn effects the operation of the signalingdevice and, in order l to maintain the device uniform in operation, 1

thecap +87#- is provided with one or more openings-40k to permit theentranceof air or the exit of air to or from theinterior space.

For the purpose of illust-ration we Vhave Ydescribed a desirable form ofair resonant 'des vice and have illustrated two of 4suchdevices, varyingin the Afact that their projectors 30?- are of different sizes, theAparts being arrangedfor thel purpose of producing two musical tones ofharmonic character.

However, it, will 'be apparent that various other forms of air resonant'devices may be substituted for those shown solong as a valvemagnetically actuated as by connection to the armature ofanelectromagnet is Autilized for controlling the flow of air from a sourceof air under pressure tothe air resonant de-f vice or devices andevarious 'changes and modifications maybe made in the form, relation andconstruction of the parts of the device without departing from theinvention as set forth inthe appended claims.v We claim; l

l. In a devicefof the class described, a casing having opposed openings,an apertured boss secured in oneof said openings, one end of theaperturein 'theboss having a greater cross' 'sectionalxarea ,than theyother end, Va valve seatat the outerend yof the larger end of suchaperture, a source of air under pressure, a conduit leading from thelarger endvr ofsuch aperture'to the source of air under pressure, avali'festem having a valve at one end adapted to seat inthe valve seatslidably mounted in the smaller end yof'the aperture inthebossandextendinginto the larger end of suchaperture, an armature onthe valvestem,an electric magnet surrounding thesesond opening in the casing,avcup secured vin such opening, a spring'seatedin the cup and,

adapted to'` releasably hold lthe, valve toits seat, and means for Ienergizing the magnet`l lwhereby the valvewill be moved from its seat.

2. In a device of the class described, a casing having opposed openings,an apertured boss secured in one of said openings, one end of theaperture in the boss having a greater cross sectional area than theother end, a valve seat at the outer end of the larger end of suchaperture, a source of air under pressure, a conduit leading from thelarger end of such aperture to the source of air under pressure, a valvestem having a valve at one end adapted to seat in the valve seatslidably mounted in the smaller end of the aperture in the boss andextending into the larger end ofsuch aperture, a packing surrounding thevalve stem and secured against the inner end of the boss, an armature onthe valve stem, an electric magnet surrounding the second opening in thecasing, a cup secured in such opening,a spring seated in thecup andadapted to releasably hold the valve to its seat, and means forenergizing the magnet whereby the valve will be moved from its seat.

In Witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands this 6th day ofSeptember 1927. THEODORE J. SOOFIELD. LLOYD E. JOHNSON. FRED WILLIAMBILLIG.

